Asian football leaders put a brave face on AFC boss Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa’s Fifa presidential defeat on Saturday and pledged to work with the world body’s new head Gianni Infantino.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) head Sheikh Salman, gunning to become Fifa’s first Asian leader, had been the pre-poll favourite but he lost out in the second round of voting.
The Bahraini royal warmly embraced Swiss-Italian Infantino after the election result and later said in a statement that the AFC “looks forward to working with the new-look Fifa”.
He added: “The new Fifa needs to become more inclusive and reflect the diversity of world football. I trust Gianni Infantino will provide the leadership to achieve this, as well as the rest of the reforms that are now urgently needed.”
Sheikh Salman’s defeat is a blow to the ambitions of Asia and especially the Arab world, where there had been anticipation of a powerful new voice in sport.
The AFC has been a staunch supporter of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, whose controversial bidding process was at the heart of the crisis which engulfed Fifa and prompted Friday’s vote.
Sheikh Salman enjoyed firm backing among the Asian voters, including the 10-member East Asian Football Federation which confirmed its support just before the election.
The East Asian bloc includes powerhouse China, which aspires to host and even win a World Cup and has been splashing out on top players for the Chinese Super League.
India, another supporter of Sheikh Salman which hosted the annual AFC awards in November, said it hoped to receive “due importance” under Infantino.
“I am sure Fifa under the able leadership of Mr Infantino would continue to give India its due importance and co-operation for the development and promotion of football,” All India Football Federation vice-president Subrata Dutta told AFP.
Infantino’s election was warmly welcomed by Australia, an AFC member since 2006, despite its earlier announcement that it would vote for Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein.
“Today was the best day Fifa has had in many years,” Football Federation Australia chairman Steven Lowy said in a statement.
“The mood for change was in the air and the congress voted overwhelmingly to move forward with a new structure and new leadership to implement it.”
New Zealand, from the 11-member Oceania Football Confederation, confirmed that it voted for Infantino after meeting the candidates in Zurich before the vote.
“The New Zealand Football delegation is delighted Gianni Infantino was elected and we firmly believe he is the right person to lead the next period for Fifa including the reform agenda,” said New Zealand Football president Deryck Shaw.
The election result made headlines around the region, with Hong Kong's Apple Daily splashing "End of the Blatter dynasty", referring to suspended former leader Sepp Blatter.
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Results
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5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
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Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
